Young Adult Re-Entry Mentor

Role overview

Hour Children is seeking a full-time Young Adult Re-Entry Mentor to support young adults ages 18 to 26 as they move through incarceration and return to the community. The role combines mentoring, case management, and coordination with internal and external partners to help participants build stability, strengthen family connections, and prepare for independent living.

The organization serves women who are incarcerated or formerly incarcerated, along with their children, through services grounded in inclusion, fairness, and respect. This position supports those values by helping clients access the resources, planning, and guidance needed for reentry.

Schedule and pay

This is an on-site position in New York, NY. The standard schedule is Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with weekend work required as needed. The salary is $55,000 per year.

What the role involves

The mentor will work with incarcerated young adults at the Rose M. Singer Center on Rikers Island and support them through reentry planning. Responsibilities include evaluating eligibility, completing intake interviews, developing individualized plans, coordinating referrals, and working with program staff and community partners to address needs such as literacy, behavioral health, housing, parenting support, and life-skills development.

The position also involves monitoring client participation and progress, contributing to interdisciplinary meetings, supporting crisis response when needed, and assisting with discharge and post-discharge planning. Family communication and resource sharing are also part of the work, including help for parents and prenatal education support.

Requirements and qualifications

Applicants should bring lived experience with the criminal legal system. A bachelor's degree in social work or another relevant field is preferred when paired with 3 years of experience, or candidates may qualify with 5 or more years of experience in youth adult mentorship and case management, ideally in human services. Equivalent combinations of training and experience will also be considered.

Additional strengths include experience supporting people with disabilities, mental health conditions, or difficult behaviors; prior work with justice-impacted young adults; data entry and case management system experience; and strong computer skills with Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. Independence, reliability, adaptability, initiative, and creativity are important. Training or experience in trauma-informed care, motivational interviewing, or similar person-centered methods is a plus. Bilingual English-Spanish ability is also preferred.

Selection and compliance

Employment depends on successful completion and approval of a background check and application review by the Department of Corrections & Community Supervision, following its rules and procedures, along with the organization's own application process.

About the employer

Hour Children is dedicated to helping incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women and their children reconnect with family, rejoin the community, and build healthy, secure, and independent lives. The organization emphasizes compassionate support in an environment committed to justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion.